AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I couldn’t give you the engagement party you deserved last time, so this is me making up for it,” he starts.
People are watching, but just like at our wedding, in my world, it’s only Benny and me.
When we’re together like this, we’re all I see.
He stares up at me with compassion in his eyes. “I always told you love wasn’t in the cards for me and not to expect it from me as your husband. But there isn’t one doubt in my being that you are my heart—myeverything. You are the peace to the chaotic life I live.
“You deserve more than a proposal on paper in the form of a contract. You deserve a man to drop to his knee and beg you to be his wife.” He takes my hand in his. “So, this is me, a man crazy in love with a woman he doesn’t deserve, asking her to be his wife. To give him a chance to make each day of hers happier than the last. Be my wife by choice. Choose me as yours because I’d choose you every day of my life.”
He dives his hand into his pocket and pulls out a black ring box.
There’s no stopping the grin from taking over my entire face. If he wasn’t on his knee, I’d jump into his arms.
My lungs burn—I’m breathing so hard.
He slowly opens the box, revealing a diamond-encrusted band.
I nod repeatedly and brightly grin. “Yes, yes! A hundred times, yes!”
My heart is on fire when he grabs my trembling hand in his and slides the band onto my ring finger, next to my wedding ring. They look perfect together.
As soon as he stands, I clasp his face in my hands, press my lips to his, and say, “I love you,” on repeat.
I hear, “Aw,” and gasps and, “So cute,” from our guests.
When I break our kiss, I allow my mouth to linger against his. “For so long, I was terrified I’d end up hating my marriage and I’d be forever void of love. But I was so wrong.” My voice cracks, and I hold in a breath to stop myself from crying. “Love is my only option with you, Benny. There’ll never be a day you won’t have my entire heart. I will always choose you.”
“Thank you for believing someone like me is worthy of love,” he whispers against my mouth. “I love you, my wife.”
* * *
I collapseonto my back on our bed. “That was the most amazing night of my life. Thank you, Benny.”
My body is relaxed.
I feel like I’m in heaven.
Benny grabs my foot and removes one heel.
Then the other.
While I’m still in bed, he then helps me out of my dress and dresses me in my pajamas. This is all to prevent me from face-planting because I drank a little too much wine while enjoying our four-course dinner.
I make myself comfortable under the sheets and play with my new ring before sliding it off my finger.
Neomi and Benito, until death do us part, is engraved on the inside.
“This is beautiful,” I tell him as I admire it.
Benny holds up his hand. “I had them engrave mine the same.”
I grin, loving that our rings match. That grin grows as he takes off his shirt and slips it off his arms. He’s started his new story on the arm void of art before. He has my name tattooed down his arm along with a tree. The tree represents what my grandmother told me about them.
Trees aren’t much different from us, Neomi. Sometimes, we must accept parts of us will shed and change. But in time, something more beautiful will bloom. That’s why you should never fear change, for what’s to come could be better than you could ever imagine.
One night, I shared that conversation with him.
He opens his bedside drawer. “I also have one more thing for you.”
